31st August 2013

Mira Road

The volatile situation in the Middle East today- especially in Egypt and Syria has invited diverse reactions from across the world. Indian Muslims, too, have closely been following every emerging detail of this conflict ever since the advent of the Arab Spring two years back. The recent alleged chemical attacks in Syria thus prompted the Jamaate Islami Hind’s Mira Road unit to present an analysis of the worsening crisis witnessed there.
The programme started with a recitation of the initial verses of Surah Ankaboot from the Holy Qur’an wherein Allah has reassured the Believers that the atrocities they are facing at the hands of the tyrants are merely a trial, whereby Allah sifts out the husk from the grain and that Allah will surely judge between them on the Day of Judgment.
The speaker for the day was Mr. Feroz Patel, who started by acquainting the audience with the historical background of Syria, which has been referred to as ‘Shaam’ since ancient times. Syria, he said, has been ruled by the Greeks, the Eastern Roman Byzantium Empire, the Persians and the Christians before it was finally brought under Muslim rule under the Caliphate of Hazrat Umar bin Khatttab. Demographically, Syria has a Sunni Muslim majority and its minority consists of Shias, Kurds and Christians. Syria also has immense strategic importance because of its proximity to Israel and the Mediterranean Sea in addition to a host of Arab countries.
The Baath Party has been ruling Syria since 1963 and the country has been under the leadership of the Assad family since 1970. The rule of the present President, Bashar Assad has largely been condemned as dictatorial. The rise of the Arab Spring saw multiple revolts in many Arab countries and Syria was not devoid of its share of protests and uprisings. Syrian protesters had to bear the brunt of a severe military reaction from the Government. The Free Syrian Army on one side and the ruling Government on the other are locked up in a fierce fight since the past two years which has seen casualties on both sides, claiming more than a lakh lives so far. The death toll is likely to escalate further if Western powers attack Syria which can lead to a full-fledged war with international allies on both sides.

To add to the woes, the Syrian opposition in itself is a fractured body, with member organisations having various (and indeed opposing) ideologies. The future of the country, Mr. Patel added, seems increasingly bleak as of now, taking into consideration all these disturbing factors. India has assumed a neutral position so far and we can only pray that sanctity prevails and a major conflict stands averted.

The programme was concluded with supplications to Allah seeking his aid and mercy.